Bali Provides Free Health Services

TEMPO Interactive, Denpasar, Wednesday, 07 January, 2009 | 12:31 WIB 

The Bali Provincial Government yesterday (6/1) started to provide free health services. 

It is targeted that these will be provided 6,000 times free of charge in 500 villages during 2009. 

“We are prioritizing villages with health problem,” said Bali Governor, Made Mangku Pastika. 

On the first day, free services were provided at Pegayaman Village in Buleleng regency; Pemecutan Village in Denpasar City; Bona Village in Gianyar Regency; Pecatu Village in Badung Regency; Nongan Village in Karangasem Regency; Taman Bali Village in Bangli Regency; Sudimara Village in Tabanan Regency; and Gelgel Village in Klungkung Regency. 

The services are provided everyday and involve GPs, dentists and some specialists. 

Pastika said that this program was not included within the system so some officials at the Health Department had complained. 

“But I will continue the program because people need this service,” he said. 

Pastika explained that the free services will be evaluated and will be stopped when people's health in each regency has improved. 

Increasing access to health and educational services for Balinese are a priority of Pastika's work program in 2009. 

Twenty percent of the Bali regional state budget has been allocated for the education sector. 

Pastika said he believed poverty in Bali would be reduced when people's access to health and educational services improved. 

ROFIQI HASAN